Robert Page - Repeat Sex Offender - Molested girl in library restroom

The alleged crime happened at Buder Branch Library on Hampton Avenue in South St. Louis City.

Police said Robert Page, 28, of St. Louis guided a 5-year-old girl into the men's bathroom and touched her leg while she was using the restroom.

The girl was on the third floor while her dad was on the second floor.

"It's horrible to think that people like that are around here, Paige Martin, a regular library patron, said. "Anyone could be sitting around the library watching kids. That's scary."

But Martin said what happened that day on January 14th won't stop her from going to the library with her son, Nicholas, 3. "A 5 year old shouldn't have been running around by herself," Martin said. "That's a big thing. He never goes anywhere in the library by himself. If I can't see him, he's not going anywhere."

According to police, the suspect even approached the father and told him he assisted his daughter in the bathroom. It wasn't until the next day when the girl told her mother what happened, did the mother report it to police and the library.

Based on the girl's description, Page was arrested four days after the alleged crime.

"This person came back to the library again and staff saw who it was identified him and went into action to alert folks what was going on," Gerald Brooks said. He's public relations director for St. Louis Public Library. Brooks said they do the best to keep patrons safe with security cameras and off-duty uniformed officers, but he said something like this could've happened anywhere.

"Whether this is at the library, it's at church, wherever you go, shopping, wherever, it's your responsibility to make sure your child is safe."

Page was on probation for sexual misconduct on a 9-year-old boy back in 2003. As a result of this latest case, his probation is now revoked.

"25% of all sex offenders re-offend within 15 years"
.........Sarah Tofte